Electric vs. Gas Cars: Which Is Better For The Environment? (2024)

FAQs

Electric vs. Gas Cars: Which Is Better For The Environment? ›

EVs are much better for the climate than gas-powered cars.

How do electric vehicles help the environment? EVs help the environment because they produce much less air and climate pollution than vehicles that run on gasoline. This is true even though much of our electric grid is still powered by fossil fuels.

The researchers found only five countries – Brazil, France, Canada, Belgium, and Venezuela – in which electricity is almost certainly a more climate-friendly energy source than natural gas for cooking and heating appliances, even if the methane leakage rate is very low.

While much better for the environment than conventional vehicles, EVs contain parts that involve some unsustainable practices. The components of an EV's lithium-ion batteries have to be mined, and electric car batteries aren't easily recycled, which adds to a growing worldwide e-waste problem.

“EVs are going to eliminate the end-of-tailpipe emissions. Yes, absolutely. But they're not going to eliminate all emissions,” Adams says. “It's really important that people recognize, from a community health perspective, that electric vehicles aren't going to save us from these particles being generated.

Myth #2: Electric vehicles are worse for the climate than gasoline cars because of battery manufacturing. FACT: The greenhouse gas emissions associated with an electric vehicle over its lifetime are typically lower than those from an average gasoline-powered vehicle, even when accounting for manufacturing.

The carbon dioxide and other greenhouse emissions that come with the process of lithium mining, extraction and overall production are worse for the climate than the production of fossil fuel-powered vehicles.

All-electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) typically produce lower tailpipe emissions than conventional vehicles do, and zero tailpipe emissions when running only on electricity.

Because EVs are on average 30% heavier, brakes and tires on the battery-powered cars wear out faster than on standard cars. Emission Analytics found that tire wear emissions on half a metric tonne of battery weight in an EV are more than 400 times as great as direct exhaust particulate emissions.

Fact: EVs improve air quality

Clean, breathable air is something that many of us take for granted. However, those who face the reality of pollution daily know firsthand the repercussions of poor air quality. Now, driving an electric vehicle does not contribute to the release of harmful CO2 into the atmosphere.

What is the biggest problem with electric cars? ›

One key disadvantage of electric cars is the battery life. Like all batteries, the capacity decreases over time. Researchers suggest battery capacity decreases by approximately 2.3% every year. Battery longevity is highly dependent on temperature.

The most obvious reason for consumer disenchantment is the hassle of charging EVs. Few drivers are willing to plan their lives around finding a charging station and waiting around for their battery to top up. During the nation's recent Arctic blast, motorists found that getting a full charge took even longer.

Electric vehicle infrastructure requires a lot of resources

To run, EVs require six times the mineral input, by weight, of conventional vehicles; primarily aluminum, nickel, cobalt, manganese and lithium.

Raw materials can be problematic. Like many other batteries, the lithium-ion cells that power most electric vehicles rely on raw materials — like cobalt, lithium and rare earth elements — that have been linked to grave environmental and human rights concerns. Cobalt has been especially problematic.

Auto execs who were once trumpeting the potential of electric cars are even publicly acknowledging that EVs aren't working. Industry analysts have pointed to several reasons for the slowdown, including insufficient charging infrastructure and a lack of affordable EV options.

Yes, hydrogen cars are way better than electric cars in terms of zero harmful emissions, quick refueling, and longer driving range. However, hydrogen cars are quite expensive and inefficient with limited infrastructure, and therefore, electric cars are more convenient, reliable, and a better option to consider.

Gas cars are cheaper compared to fuel than electric cars. Electricity is usually more expensive than gasoline, which means that it will cost you more per mile, so gas-powered cars offer better value for money in the long run.

Some studies have shown that the manufacturing of a typical EV battery can result in higher carbon emissions compared to gasoline cars. This is due to the significant amount of energy required for the procurement of raw materials and the manufacturing process itself.

In a traditional car, fuel can leak or ignite during an accident, which can cause a fire. In an electric vehicle, the battery pack is designed to be safe and has built-in safety features that help prevent fires.